HELOISE Fido may need more frequent foot-washings

Dear Heloise: Most dog owners clean Fido's feet after the occasional romp in the mud, but how many think about the day-to-day dirt? Consider this: If you never wore shoes, how would your feet look?
If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, try this: Fill a basin or tub with lukewarm water, then dampen your pet's feet. Apply a mild antibacterial soap to your hands and form a lather, then gently massage the bottom of each paw, being careful to get between the pads. Check for small stones or other foreign bodies while you're down there.
Finally, rinse each paw well and take a look at the water. You might be appalled, especially if you let your dog sleep on your bed with you. My dog, Phantom, does a lot of tree-climbing, and his feet get covered in so much mulch and sap that his paws need a bath every two or three days. Lori Z., Pennsylvania
Dear Readers: Matthew Bills of Sugarland, Texas, sent in a photo of his 11-week-old English bulldog, Peanut. It seems that Peanut found the baby's pacifier and decided she needed it. What an adorable photo!
Visit my Web site, www.Heloi-se.com, and click on This Week's Pet to see Peanut and the pacifier. Send your favorite, unusual pet photo to: Heloise/Pet Photo, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Just read your tip on keeping pet records, and I thought I'd add another reason. I recently switched vets, and my current vet refused to release my pet's file without a $25 "processing fee." Outrageous -- holding your patients hostage like that! I paid for those services once -- I'm not paying again. It's certainly not the way to treat customers or get referrals!
So keep a file of your own on your pet. You might be glad you did. A Reader, Via E-mail
We called five veterinarians here in San Antonio, and four out of the five do not collect a fee for releasing records. I was actually surprised and thought there would be at least a small processing fee, especially if records needed to be copied or some major paperwork done. Heloise
Dear Heloise: For daily combing and brushing of my small dog, I use my bathroom sink. I use a piece of clear plastic about 1/4 inch thick and large enough to cover the sink. I then cover that with a towel. The sink is high enough that she won't try to jump off, and I find I have more control of my dog while combing or brushing. This saves me a lot of time and patience, as the job is done a lot more quickly. Of course, when we are finished, she gets a treat! Barbara Odell, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
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